The Colony of Andstartwest is a mammoth, socially progressive nation, ruled by William Lee with an even hand, and remarkable for its pith helmet sales, otherworldly petting zoo, and complete lack of prisons. The hard-nosed, humorless population of 6.428 billion Andstartwestians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tangier. The average income tax rate is 80.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Andstartwestian economy, worth a remarkable 1,296 trillion bms a year, is fairly diversified and dominated by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Retail. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an amazing 201,732 bms, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.6 times as much as the poorest.

Colonial citizens are forced to sing the praise of the "Great Andstartwestian Liberator", Andstartwestian Gladiators is a ratings success, the latest drugs are only legally available to private patients, and exceptionally healthy police officers can sprint after crooks for hours on end. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Andstartwest's national animal is the cockroach, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Andstartwest is ranked 233,017^th in the world and 1^st in Islands of Hypnerotomachia for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -4.73 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.